Mounting plate for fixtures employing elongated tubular lamps



3 R. G. MARCHISIO 2,645,703

MOUNTINGPLATE FOR FIXTURES EMPLOYING ELONGATED TUBULAR LAMPS Filed July1, 1950 INVENTOR ROBERT 6. MARCH! 0 24 25 /a 3 B C ATTORNEY PatentedJuly 14, 1953 MOUNTING PLATE FORFIXTURES'EMPLOY- ING ELONGATED TUBULARLAMPS Robert G. Marchisio, Wenham, Mass., assignor to Sylvania ElectricProducts Inc., Salem, Mass. a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationJuly 1, 1950, Serial No. 171,592

1 Claim. 1

This inventionrelates to electric lighting fixtures and moreparticularly to fixtures employing elongated tubular light sources, suchas fluorescent lamps.

To the'lighting fixture manufacturer, the introduction of each new lampsize presents .addi tional fixture manufacturing problems,,one of themore important of which is the stocking of a complete set of fixturecomponents to accommodate the new size lamp. The stocking of differentsizes of fixture components for differ ent sizes of lamps not onlymaterially increases the minimum necessary operating inventory but,

. in the case of some of the longer lamps, such as the 96 inch long, 75watt fluorescent lamp, for example, assembly operationsare quite awkwardin a bench-type assembly line system be- I cause ofthe extreme length ofthe units.

It is, therefore, an object of our invention to provide a device whichwill permit the use of basic fixture units in fixtures employin lamps ofvarious sizes. V

Another object of our invention is to provide a device which will permitthe use of basic retrated with reference to a specific type offluorescent lighting fixture. Other modifications of the device of ourinvention and their adaptability to fixtures other than the specific oneshown and described will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart.

Further objects, advantages and features will be apparent from thefollowing description when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a fluorescent lighting fixture with which thedevice .of our invention may be employed.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View of the fluorescent lightingfixture of Figure 1, taken along the line 2- 2 thereof, and showing aspecific embodiment of our invention.

. mounted on the fixture.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top perspective view v 2 V ture l comprises anelongated channel chassis 2 with end plates 3 and 4 attached to the endsthereof, a mounting plate assembly 5 attached to and depending from thechassis 2 transverse thereof and midway between its ends, a pair ofreflectors 6 and l and a plurality of lightcontrolling panels 8, 9, l0and II. Fluorescentof louvers 14 extending transversely thereof andattached thereto.

In the specific modification shown in the drawing, the mounting plateassembly 5 comprises a pair of plates l5, eachof which has a 1ouver I6formed integral therewith, attached to one another, areflector-supporting member I! attached to the opposite faces of each ofthe two plates l5, and a latch 18 pivotally mounted between th offsetends of the louvers l6-at each end thereof. Each of the plates l5 of themounting plate assembly 5 has a pair of ears I9 formed integraltherewith through which the mounting plate assembly 5 is attached to thechassis 2.

As mentioned above, the mounting plate assembly of our invention permitsthe use of multiple reflector and panels units in assembling fluorescentlighting fixtures. In assembling the instant fixture shown in thedrawing; the end plates 3 and 4, with the lamp holders [3 mountedthereon, are attached to the ends of the chassis 2. The mounting plateassembly 5 is then attached to the chassis 2 midway between the endsthereof by securing the ears I9 of the mounting plate assembly 5 to thechassis.

The reflector 6 is then placed in position. One end of the reflector isattached to the end plate 3, by any suitable means. The other end of thereflector has a pair of slots 20 cut therein, through which thereflector supporting member H, which comprises a pair of resilient metalfingers 2i, extends. As this end of the .reflector is swung intoposition, the fingers 2| of the reflector supporting member I! aredepressed to per-- tance sufficient to bring the slots 20 therein inline with the fingers 2|. The fingers 2| are then released and snap intothe slots 20, thereby securely retaining and supporting this end of thereflector.

The light-controlling panels 8 and 9 are then One end of each of thepanels 8 and 9 is attached to or mounted on the end plate 3 in somesuitable manner. The

other end of each'of the panels 8 and 9 is hung 3 e on the hook portion22 of a bracket 23 mounted on the chassis 2 above and in register withthe mounting plate assembly 5.

The reflector I and the light-controlling panels I!) and 'II are mountedin the same manner as the reflector 6 and the light-controlling panels 8and 9 respectively. The latches l8, each of which has aresilien-t clip24 attached to the free end thereof, are then swung upwardly intoengagement with the adjacent ends of panels-8 and I and 9 and IIrespectively. Each of the game clips 24 has an offset portionj2'5lw'hich locks the panels 8, 9, l0 and II in the hook portion 'means onopposite ifaces ,o'f said mounting plate forsupportingftheradjacentxends of each of said reflectors; a transverselouver on said amounting 4 plate and disposed between the adjacent endsof each of said reflectors; at least two lightcontrolling panelsdisposed end-to-end, parallel to said chassis along each side thereofand spaced therefrom with the ends of said panels disposed adjacent tosaid end plates mounted thereonj a bracket mounted on each'side of saidchassis above and in register with the transverse louver on saidmounting plate, the free end of each of said brackets having a bookportion on which the adjacentzends of each of said panelsare'jsu'pported; and 'a latch pivotally mounted on each end of saidtransverse louver on said mounting plate and disposed between theadjacent ends of said panels the free end of said latch" overlying andfrictionally engaging the adjacent ends of said panels at the points atwhich said panels are supported on said bracket.

' ROBERT G'. MARCHISIO.

'Befer'ences Cited ,in the file of 'this patent "UNITED STATESPAFIE-NTSNumber 'Name "Datle 2,319,732 ,.,Guth May 13,.1194'3 2,3351736 ""Campeiiv Nor/.30, 1943 2,335,737 A'Car'npenI Nov, .30 1943 2,525,553 Kingstonet al. v .Oct..1,. 1,950

